Broader Probe Of Minority Contracts Urged

February 08, 2000|By Monica Davey, Tribune Staff Writer.

Calling for an expansion of examinations already underway into how city contracts are handed out, a group of African-American lawmakers on Monday announced plans to scrutinize minority contracts at the city, county, state and federal level.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill), state Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) and Cook County Commissioner Bobbie Steele said they will hold a hearing Saturday at Malcolm X College to study how construction contracts are awarded to minorities.

The group will focus on why minorities aren't chosen, on front companies that pretend to be minority- or women-owned and on other methods of fraud, Hendon said.

"It's robbing the taxpayers," he said. "And it's not just on the city level."

Late last year, Mayor Richard Daley announced a series of city reforms of the Purchasing Department after damaging revelations about Windy City Maintenance, a contractor that for years claimed to be run by a woman but was actually run by men in the politically connected Duff family.

At the time, Daley also appointed a task force to uncover bureaucratic roadblocks for minority companies and to help recruit companies legitimately owned by women and minorities.

But members of the new Davis-Hendon-Steele coalition said Daley's task force wasn't enough.

Their group, including pastors and community members, has invited representatives from dozens of construction companies, as well as government officials, to speak at Saturday's meeting. It was unclear on Monday night how many officials will appear, but the group said it will take careful note of those who do not show up. "I will advise all companies to show up," said Hendon.

"People will come and tell of their experiences," Davis said. "People who have been shut out. . . . front companies and so on."

Within two weeks, he said, the group will study findings from the hearing and issue a report on the state of minority contracts. That report, the group said, will be forwarded to Daley, among others.